Disconnecting switch



'Sept 11, 1928.

F. RONNEB ERGER DISCONNECTING rSWITCH *Filledv Feb. 1e, 1927 WITNEssEs:

f 4 INVENTOR v'nfzz iionnebeyen ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1928. 'Y

UNITED .STATES PATENT CFFICE.

FRITZ ItONNEBERGER, F BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- ,yy TRIO & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DISCONNECTING SWITCH.

Application led February 16, 1927, Serial No. 168,572, and in GermanyFebruary 19, 1926.

My invention relates to disconnecting switches and particularly tolocking mechanisms therefor.

One object of my invention is to, provide a disconnecting switch thatshall have a positive locking device for preventing accidental openingor closing movements of lthe switch. A further object of my invention isto provide a disconnecting switch that shall m snap into a lockedposition only when it is in its full open and closed positions.

Heretofore, disconnecting switches of the rotatably-mounted type havenot been provided wlth a positiveinternal locking device.

l5 If such locking means is provided, the switch willalways remain inthe desired position even though it has been in long-continued l usewith the resultant wear.

` My invention provides means for locking the switch in either itsfull-open position or its full-closedr position until an operating meansis applied to the locking device for uny locking and for turning theswitch intol the other'position.' f` y f y z5 f' For anvillustration ofone of the various forms'my invention may take, reference is tohbehhad4fto the accompanying drawing, in w 1c Figure 1 'lis' aview, partiallyin elevationV andpartially yin section, of a disconnecting switchembodying my invention; and,

n Fig. 2 is a view, vin section, taken on the line II-II of Fig.r1, withthe central member "atright angles to the position it occupies in Fig.'1.V f

` My invention comprises, in general, an in? sulator 11- that-supports aswitch arm 12 and which is supported by and locked 'by a doublesocket13.-- Y f lThe double socket `13 comprises anl outer socket'4member or housing 14v and an inner socketmember 15,- in which the lowerend :of thel insulator 11 is embedded.

yThe" outer socket 'member 14 may be secured by flanges-16 to a wall orany other `desired-support. Lugs or screwsy 17 are inserted vthroughtheo'uterxsocket -14 for engagement vwith annular grooves 18formed inthe outer periphery of the socket member 15 for preventing actualmovement of the latter in an axial direction. "The ybottom of the socketmember 14 yis provided with Van opening'19 that 'isf surrounded anupwardly extending ring 21. Projections 22 and 22a are disposed on theupper surface of the ring 21 fora purpose to be hereinafter described.

The inner socket member 15 is provided with a downwardly extendingtubularI extension 23 that terminates in slots 24, the length of whichin the periphery bears a denite relation to the angular movement desiredfor the switch arm 12. A coil spring 25 is disposed within the tubularextension 23 and with one of its ends bearing against the inner socket15fand its other end bearing against a locking or positioning member 26that is disposed 1n the opening 19 in the outer socket member 14.

The locking or positioning member 26 is provided with outwardlyextending arms 27 that are provided with recesses 28 for the receptionof the lugs 22 or the lugs 22a in accordance with the position of thearms. The positioning member 26 is provided with -a squared opening 29for the reception of an operating crank 30.

In the operation of a switching device embodying my invention, theoperator places the crank 30 in the opening 29 and applies,`

an upward pressure thereto, which serves to lift the positioning member26 clear of the lugs 22 against the bias of the spring 25. After thearms 27 are clear of the lugs 22, a turning movement in a desireddirection may be imparted to the positioning member 26 which istransmitted through the arms 27 engaging the sides of the' slots 24 tothe inner socket member 15 and the switch arm 12. At

` the end of the desired'movement of the switch arm 12, the arms 27engage another set of lugs 22*l (see Fig. 2) over which they must beraised before the final movement of the are prevented by a locking'device that is ren'- dered inoperative only when an operating crank ispressedupwardly against a tensioning spring. An operator is informedthat the switch arm is in the desired open 0L' yclosed position'by theoperation of the locking device.

It is to be understood that various changes in the arrangement,disposition and construction of the component parts of my invention,such as the reversal of the positioning of the locking projections andrecesses may be made as shall' fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination, an insulator, an electrical device cooperatingtherewith, and a support for the insulator comprising an outer socketmember having a stop member formed thereon, an inner socket memberhaving a slot formed therein, and a locking means cooperating with thesocket members and comprising an arm extending through the slot intoengagementwith the stop member.

2. In combination, an insulator, an electrical device cooperatingtherewith, and a support for the insulator comprising an outer socketmember having stop members formed thereon, an inner socket member havingslots formed therein, and a locking means cooperating with socketmembers and comprising arms extended through the slots into engagementwith stop members.

3. In combination, an insulator, an electrical device cooperatingtherewith, and a support for the insulator comprising an outer socketmember having stop members formed thereon, an inner socket memberhavingslots formed therein, and a spring biased locking means cooperating withthe socket members and comprising arms extending through the leots intoengagement with said stop mem- 4. In combination, an insulator, anelectrical device cooperating therewith, and a support for the insulatorcomprising an outer socket member having stops formed thereon, an innersocket member having slots formed therein cooperatin with the outersocket member, and a spring-biased locking means being provided withmeans for the reception of an operating member and comprising armsextending through the slots in the inner socket llpember for engagementwith the stop memrs. l

5. In combination, a switch arm having an open position and a closedAposition, a shaft member for supporting the switch arm, a double socketfor-supporting the shaft membeiand comprising an outer member and aninner member, biased locking means interposed between the inner andouter members and cooperating therewith to prevent relative movement ofthe inner and outer members, and operating means for neutralizing theeffect of the biasing means and imparting relative movement to the innerand outer members.

locking means Jfor locking the outer and inner member to preventrelative movement of said switch arm in its open position or 1n itsclosed position, and operating means for un locking said biased lockingmeans.

7. In combination, a switch arm having an open position and a closedposition, a shaft member for supporting the switch arm, a cap membersupporting the shaft member and having a tubular extension, the capmember being rotatably mounted in a housing, means for preventingmovement ofthe cap member in an axial direction, and a spring memberinterposed between the cap member and a locking means having an opening4for the reception of a crank member, said locking means having resilientengagement with the housing and cooperating 'with the tubular extensionof said cap member, and a Crank member, for insertion into the openingof said locking member before e'ecting switch movement.

8. In combination, a switch arm having an open position and a closedposition, a shaft member supporting said switch arm, said shaft memberbeing supported by a double socket that comprises an outer vmemberhaving stops thereon and an inner member having slots therein, saidinner member being rotatably mounted within the outer member, andlocking means extending through the slots in the inner member forengagement with the stops on the outer member, said locking means beingmovable in an axial direction to unlock the members before turning saidinner member relative to the outermember.

9. In combination, a switch arm having an open position and a closedposition, a shaft member supporting the switch arm, the shaft memberbeing supported by a double socket that comprises an outer member and aninner member, and a sprino' member interposed between the inner mem erand a locking member that cooperates therewith.

l0. In combination, a switch arm having an open position and a closedposition, a shaft member supporting said switch arm, the shaft memberbeing supported byV a ca member that is in'resilient engagement wit ahousing having recesses therein, a locking mechanism comprising a springmember and a positioning member having lugs thereon disposed within atubular extension of the cap member and normally in a locking position,operating means for compressing the spring member to unlock said lockingmechanism from recessive engagement with the housing.' and to turn thelocking mechanism which is operable therewith, the tubular extension andthe switch arm being automatically locked upon reaching their closed oropen positions.

l1. In combination, a switch arm having an open position and a closedposition, a shaft member supporting the switch arm, the

shaft member being supported by a base memslots for engagement With thestop members, .ber comprisingl inner and outer socket mem? whereby theswitch arm is automatically 1" bers, both of which are provided withrevisdocked upon reaching the end of its travel tering slots7 one of thesocket members e 'in either direction.

5 ing provided with stop means, at an end In testimony Whereof,Ihavehereunto subof iits slots, tensioning means disposed bescribed my nainethis 15th day of January,

tweenthe socket members and comprising a 1927. locking member thatprojects through the FRITZ RONNEBERGER.

